Another measles alert for Edmonton area after case at Spruce Grove clinic
A confirmed case of measles at a clinic in Spruce Grove west of Edmonton has prompted an Alberta Health Services public alert to potential exposures.
AHS issued the warning Friday afternoon after authorities were notified about a person with a confirmed measles in the Edmonton zone who had been in a public setting while infectious, in this case Connect Care Medical Clinic in Spruce Grove. Additional locations may be released if necessary, said AHS.
Individuals who were at the clinic May 16 between 8:45 a.m. and 1 p.m. may have been exposed to measles, said the warning.
Anyone who attended the location at the time, who was born in or after 1970 and has less than two documented doses of measles-containing vaccine, may be at risk for developing measles. They should self-monitor for symptoms of measles and are strongly encouraged to review their immunization records, said AHS.
Complications of measles can include ear infections, pneumonia, inflammation of the brain, premature delivery, and rarely death, said AHS. If symptoms of measles do develop, individuals are advised to stay home and call the measles hotline at 1-844-944-3434 before visiting any healthcare facility or provider, including a family physician clinic or pharmacy.
AHS notes that measles vaccine is highly effective at preventing infection and complications. In Alberta, measles vaccine is offered, free of charge, through Alberta's publicly funded immunization program. The recommended schedule for measles vaccination is two doses, the first at one year of age and the second at 18 months.
Anyone who believes they have been exposed and are not protected may be able to receive immunization to reduce the risk of infection. A dose of vaccine needs to be given within 72 hours of exposure to prevent measles. Babies under 1 year of age, people with severely weakened immune systems, and those who are pregnant may be able to receive immunoglobulin within six days of exposure to prevent disease. A measles hotline at 1-844-944-3434 is available for more information.
AHS on Friday, meanwhile, also issued what it called a 'standing measles exposure advisory' for the entire South health zone.
'This standing advisory will replace the use of separate site-specific exposure advisories, which no longer accurately capture the scope of potential risk at this time,' AHS said in a written statement.
The health agency noted it was tracking and managing a large number of measles cases in the area, 'including in individuals with no known exposure source,' it said.
'This indicates underreporting of measles disease to AHS, and a widespread potential exposure risk across all communities in the Zone.'
Alberta had recorded 560 known measles cases, including 22 new cases, as of noon Friday. Of those 560, 73 per cent of cases have been in the south zone while 17 per cent have been in the central zone and seven per cent in the north zone. The Calgary zone has had 12 cases and the Edmonton zone six.
Earlier this month, the Alberta government, alarmed by the worst outbreak of measles in decades, announced measures designed to increase vaccination rates and a public awareness campaign urging Albertans to get vaccinated.
As of May 17, 89 per cent of people with confirmed measles cases were not immunized, according to the province's measles dashboard, which also shows an increase in all zones of measles containing immunization doses being given in 2025, particularly this spring, compared to the past two years.
Alberta to ramp up measles vaccinations and health campaign amid highest number of cases in decades
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